Dusk

Four

Nick and Vera looked up when I took my seat.

"You alright? You took a while in the bathroom."
Nick looked concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine, long line."

Vera squinted at me before she turned to Kierce, "Was there a long line for the guy's too?"

Kierce didn't even look at me. "Yeah, just bad timing I guess."

The nerve of the dude. He lied without flinching. Vera knew I was lying, but I doubt she thought Kierce was lying. Food had been brought out during my absence so I started digging in. The rest of the dinner passed without more incident.

Nick was a really cool guy to be around. He made sure that I was comfortable although I did notice some exchanged looks between Kierce and Nick. But I ignored them, focusing on light topics to talk about. Nick ended up paying for my food which made me feel bad. Nick promised it didn't hurt his wallet.

The night turned sour once we were outside the restaurant. Tiana was waiting. She tore my arm away from his and started babbling. I stood there watching. I refused to get all clingy on the first date no matter how well it went. Nick handled it like a champ. He promptly removed her hands off of him and sternly told her, "I'm on a date right now, you do not have my permission to be talking to me right now."

He grabbed my hand and we kept walking. Internally, I was cheering and jumping. But then we heard a roar. We flipped our heads around and where Tiana should've been standing, there was now a huge acid bubbling monster.

I couldn't breathe. What was one supposed to do in this situation. The monster lifted a arm, it's red bubbling hand holding a burning ball liquid.

Nick grabbed my shoulders and shoved me out of the way just as the monster chunked the liquid ball. Where I had been standing, the pavement was a puddle of bubbling liquid. I watched as the puddle ate up what it touched. I turned back to the monster again.

"What is that thing!"  I yelled to Nick who was on the other side of the pavement hole.
"I don't know, but stay calm and try to slowly go to the limo." Nick kept his eye on the thing.

I crept backwards on my butt. Kierce and vera were nowjere to be seen. We had been first to exit the restaurant and I had no clue where they were. They should've been out here when Tiana rudely butted in. Where was Tiana anyways?

Nick was still in front, standing by the pavement hole. I had almost reached the limo door when the acid monster chucked another liquid acid ball. There was no time for me to move. I closed my eyes and prayed for anything else to happen. Hands roughly yanked my hips and I heard a whoosh. I opened my eyes and Nick was no longer in front of me. In fact, the restaurant wasn't either. I was sitting on grass, nowhere near the restaurant. Where was I?

"Stay here, I'll come back." I heard a voice that sounded a lot like Kierce's.
I whirled around and caught a glimpse of black disappear into the oak tree.

My stomach gurgled loudly. This didn't feel too good. There was a trashcan nearby and I ran, barely getting my stomach there in time. After I felt better, I looked around. I was at the park. A park that was clear on the other side of town. Even if I started walking now to go back, it would take me a good hour to get there. I groaned. Why did Kierce bring me here? And more importantly, could he stop? I hated throwing up and it seems that it happened every time he touched me. Which would be a total of two. That I have knowledge of, I reminded myself. He had said it wasn't my first or my last? Whatever that means.
I sat down on a nearby bench. I really needed to ask Kierce some questions. I thought hard. It seems that Kierce could travel. But it was like he touched me and bam another place. How did it work? I reached to grab my phone, then realized. Duh, I was wearing a dress which meant no pockets, which meant Nick had it. I groaned even harder. I had wanted to call Vera and see where she was. If Kierce was with her, she should be safe, right? But why not grab both of us to the same place?

I sat and waited in the cold August air. Five minutes had gone by. Then ten. Then fifteen. It had been almost a half an hour, right when I was ready to get up and start walking home when I heard a whoosh by the oak tree. I leaped off the bench towards Kierce.

"Dude! About time! I've been stuck here waiting, wondering if I should leave or not!" I inhaled a breath to say more, but then Kierce started to falter in his steps. I panicked ran, catching him with my body.

"Kierce!" I struggled under his weight. As gently as I could, I lowered him to the ground. In other words, he smashed his face in as I tried to get him down.

Once rolled over, I looked over him. I didn't see any blood or any signs of injury. Kierce's eyes were closed. I held my breath, trying to hear his breathing. It was very faint. He must've passed out.